Terminal for heating elements



Sept; 29, 1925. I 1,555,274

0. A. COLBY TERMINAL FQR HEATING ELEIEN'IS Filed Aug. '30, 1923 5 INVENTOR Ora A. Colby M I BY ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

Patented Sept' 29, 1925;.

UNITED STATES I 1,555,274 PATENT OFFICE.

QRA A. COLBY, OF IRWIN, I'ENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF YENNSYLVANIA.

TERMINAL FOR HEATING ELEMENTS.

Application filed. August 30, 1923. Serial No. 660,123.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORA A. CoLnY, a cit-izen of the United States, and a resident of Irwin, in the county of VVestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Terminals for 1 Heating Elements, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to 'ielectrically heated devices and particularly to terminals for the 1 heating elements of electric irons.

The object of my invention is to rovide a relatively simple, compact and easi y manufactured and assembled terminal structure F for an armored electric heating element.

In practicing my invention, I provide an electric heating unit comprising a resistor located within a plurality of metal plates constituting a casing for the resistor. Terminal pins are mounted on sheet metal terminal-supporting members, of substantially L-shape, that are insulatedly supported on the heating unit by co-operating notches and shoulders that hold the terminal supporting members in their proper operative positions 24 0111311118 of encased heating unit 13, here relatively totheheating unit and prevents lateral and longitudinal movement thereof relatively to the heating unit.

In the single-sheet of drawings,

. Figure 1 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in vertical longitudinal section, through an electric iron embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of. an encased electric heating unit embodying my inven tion,

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation thereof,

4 is a partial view, in combined sideelevation and longitudinal section, of a device embodying my invention, and

' Fig. 5 is a partial view, in combined side elevation and longitudinal section, of a modified form of device embodying my invention.

7 An electric iron 11 comprises a sole or bottom plate 12, an encased heating unit 13, a top plate 14 and a cover member 15. The sole plate 12, heating unit 13 and the top plate 14 constitute what may be termed thedy portion of the iron. The top plate 14,

is d in its proper operative position against the upper surface of the heating unit 13 by any suitable means, such as a machine screw 16, extending through the top plate and the heating unit and into the bottom plate. The cover member 15 is held in its proper operative position against the upper surface of the sole plate 12 by a relatively heavy machine bolt 17 extending into the sole plate 12.

A handle member 18 is mounted at the upper ends of a handle strap member 19, of

substantially U-shap'e, that has its intermediate portion secured against the upper sur face of the cover member 15 by a plurality of rivets 21.

The encased heating unit 13 comprises a lower sheet metal member 22 and an upper sheet metal member 23, between which is located anelectric heating element 24 that may comprise a suitable metallic resistor member located on a sheet of electric-insulating material, and which is insulated from ,the top and the bottom plates by sheets 25 of a suitable electric insulating material, such as mica. The lower plate 22 has upwardly extending and inturned peripheral flange portions 26 to permit of tightly clamping the upper late 23 against the heating element l hile I have. illustrated a particular shown as substantially triangular in shape,

the device embodying my invention is not limited'thereto and any -particular shape may be employed.

Terminal pins 27 are mounted on terminal-supporting members 28 that may comprise two parts 28 and 28a or, if considered desir- 4, of the drawing, the top metal sheet 23 is- .provided with a pair of spaced, alined and laterally extending openings 31 comprising a notch to co-operate with a shoulder ortion 32 of the members 28a. The shou der portions 32 may be-formed by suitably bending a part of the members 28a. Small sheets 33 of insulating material, such as mica are emfployed to insulate the metal members 28a rom the top plate 23 and item the heating element 24.

35 and both the top plate 23 and the bottom plate. 22 are provided with co-operating shoulder portions 36, that extend into the notches of the members 28a to hold them in their proper operative positions relatively to the heating unit. Sheets 33 of electric insulating material are provided, as hereinbefore described, to insulate the members 28a from the top plate and the heating element 26%.

An elongated opening 37 is provided at the rear of the cover member 15 through which the terminal pins 27 may extend, a block 38 of a suitable refractory electricinsulating material being provided through which the pins 27 may project in order to hold the ins 27 and the members 28 and 28a in their proper operative positions within the assembled iron.

The device embodying my invention. provides a relatively simple and compact means for holding the terminal member in its proper operative position relatively to the heating element, with which it is associated,

' p and with a part of which it is interlocked.

Various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit electric heating element located therebetween and a terminal-member-supporting means having a portion extending between said top and bottom plates and interlocked with said top plate.

2. In an electric heating unit, in combination, an electric heating element, a metal casing surrounding said heating element, terminal pins, and terminal pin supports carried by said heating unit, said casing and said supports having co-operating notches and shoulders for securing said supports in their proper operative positions relatively to said metal casing.

3. In an electric heating unit, in combination, an electric heating element, a metal casing surrounding said heating element, terminal pins, and terminal pin supports, said casing and supports having co-operating notches and shoulders for preventing both lateral and longitudinal movement of said supports relatively to said casing. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 23rd day of Aug- 11st 1923.

hair A. coLBY. 

